Stocking questions

After I get my cory fry raised I'm going to be re-setting up my 55gal show tank (4ft by 1 ft by?). I know I want an African butterfly fish (Pantodon buchholzi) or 2 in there. They are top dwellers that get 4" or so and temp of about 78-80.
I'm thinking of going cichlid (yall are a bad influence) I would love a nice color (purples blues ?) something thats not too vicious and wont attack my butterfly. I also cant spend too much on each fish ($20=too much) I would like to have a few live plants in there if I can. I'm planning on a sand substrait with some driftwood and some rock work.

Let me know what yall think up with pics and stats (temp size ect)

Cichlids and plants dont mix well. Id say do some nice peacocks or something Lake Tang ...Little less vicious.

Um specific fish please I'm still cichlid dumb.

your tropheus is genus(small group). they all have the same body shape like the picture below. i have tropheus red moliro firecrackers but i am looking to get some tropheus bemba orange flame.
moliro

bemba

ikola

Ok, so what can I put in there?

I can catch these locally http://myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/Nonnative_FW_MayanCichlid.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cichlasoma_urophthalmus
If you guys think I should try with a free fish first? If I do them first to get the hang of cichlids any one want them?

Ok Holey what is this good blend you recommend? I'm thinking cichlid because of the bright colors they have.

And they wont kill the butterfly?

Ok what could I put with it that it wont eat?

This is why I'm asking




I want to put it with other fish that will eat crickets and such.

you can mix apistogramma and gold and blue rams with your butterfly fish. These are small cichlids and they are not aggressive. In fact you can even have these in a community tank. They are really cool and have some myself. However they can be a bit delicate to water pollution, (aminium, nitrate and nitrite levels) As long as you do you water change its all good.

apistogramma

http://www.u2u.idv.tw/stone/photo/Apisto/Apistogramma%20bitaeniata%20Mamuri(1).jpg

rams
http://www.petpig.com/fish/fish/Cichlid-Blue-Ram.jpg

check them out and see if you like them. Oddball fish are also cool man

I think I like both of those. How much do they cost usually?

Fern wrote:

I think I like both of those. How much do they cost usually?

rams can range from 5$ to 10$.

apistogrammas are usually from 10$ to $20 you just need to find the place where to find them cheaper.

but those are awesome fish man for sure you will like them. they make your tank look all colorful and stuff

Ok so we have butterfly's rams and apistogrammas (if I can find them)
So thats the top and bottom. Now I need a middle fish. I can get quarter sized angels for $2ish. Should I do 2 or 1 of those? Would the work with the above mentioned fish?

Fern wrote:

Ok so we have butterfly's rams and apistogrammas (if I can find them)
So thats the top and bottom. Now I need a middle fish. I can get quarter sized angels for $2ish. Should I do 2 or 1 of those? Would the work with the above mentioned fish?

yeah that would be fine. However just watch out with the angels. they might nibble on the butterflies fins

Ok, Do you have a better suggestion?

hmm for middle you can also get some kribensis or even rainbow fish if you want to mix stuff around like me. They will do good. all adapt to same water temp, ph and hardness. just not the small rainbow fish such as featherfin and stuff like that.

Ok sounds good. All of those will work with plants and sand?

I am going to have to put this project on hold for a bit till I get a load of 10g and 20g to raise all the friggin corys I have. I just put some (123 to be precise) in the 55gal to grow them for selling.